Dean of School of Medicine

Job Description

Job Summary

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen is seeking an inspirational and visionary Dean to lead the next phase of development of its School of Medicine. Reporting to the University’s President/Vice President, the Dean will lead an international team of faculty and administrative staff to position the School as a globally recognized, top tier medical education institution and to drive impactful contributions to China’s healthcare landscape, with a particular strategic focus on the Greater Bay Area.

Who We Are?

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen) was established in 2014 in accordance with the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Chinese-foreign Cooperation in Running Schools upon approval of the Ministry of Education. It inherits the educational philosophy and academic systems of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and is committed to nurturing high-end talent with global perspective, Chinese tradition, and social responsibility. Currently, more than 12,000 students are studying at CUHK-Shenzhen. Over the past 10 years since its inception, the University has established eight schools, namely the School of Management and Economics, the School of Science and Engineering, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, the School of Data Science, the School of Music, the School of Medicine, the School of Public Policy, and the School of Artificial Intelligence. These eight schools, together with the Graduate School, offer 29 undergraduate programmes and 57 postgraduate programmes.

The School of Medicine was officially established in August 2021, building on the foundation of the previous School of Life and Health Sciences (founded in November 2018). The School is committed to nurturing outstanding, innovative, and compassionate medical professionals with a global outlook. Leveraging the first-class educational foundation and teaching experience of the Faculty of Medicine (founded in 1981) of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and drawing on advanced medical education philosophies from China and abroad, the School has developed a comprehensive education system spanning undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programmes, and is actively exploring a new model of medical education integrating Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

The School of Medicine currently offers five undergraduate programmes: Clinical Medicine, Bioinformatics, Biological Sciences, Biomedical Science and Engineering, and Pharmaceutical Sciences. At the postgraduate level, it admits students to the MPhil–PhD Programmes in Biological Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Pharmacology, Computational Biology and Health Informatics, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and the MSc in Bioinformatics.

The School of Medicine is home to 3 Nobel Laureate Institutes (namely, Warshel Institute for Computational Biology, Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, and Ciechanover Institute of Precision and Regenerative Medicine) and the Shenzhen Research Institute of Big Data. In tandem, the School will give full play to the University's research and talent strengths in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Life Health, further integrate the medical industry with science and engineering, stimulate the development of translational medicine, and stay committed to building an international medical system with three pillars: advanced medical services, high-end medical talent training, and innovative medical research.

Situated on the shores of the Fairy Lake adjacent to the University main campus, the School of Medicine occupies an area of 235,000 m² with a building area of approximately 550,000 m². The Groundbreaking Ceremony was held on May 15, 2023. The North Campus is scheduled to be completed in June 2026, and the South Campus is scheduled to be completed in December 2026. At present, the School of Medicine owns two affiliated hospitals and eleven clinical teaching bases. The Medical Centre construction project, which has a total floor area of 590,000 m² and a planned capacity of 3,000 beds, officially commenced in December 2019 and is expected to achieve full completion by the end of 2026, with plans for a formal comprehensive opening in 2027. The first phase of outpatient and inpatient services commenced trial operations in late October 2025.

Where Is Shenzhen?

Located on the southern coast of China, Shenzhen borders Hong Kong to the south, separated by the Shenzhen River. Established as China’s first Special Economic Zone in 1980, the city has evolved into a global technology and innovation hub, often dubbed "China’s Silicon Valley", fueled by decades of rapid development and a steady influx of talent. Economically and globally influential, Shenzhen continues to strengthen its position as a leading global financial and logistics hub. In 2024, Shenzhen’s GDP reached RMB3.68 trillion yuan, marking a 5.8% year-on-year growth and solidifying its status as one of China’s top economic powerhouses. As a pivotal node in global trade, the city maintains its standing among the world’s busiest container ports, with long-term infrastructure plans targeting 33 million TEUs by 2025.

With an administrative population of nearly 20 million spread across nine districts, Shenzhen remains one of China’s most populous and dynamic metropolises. Culturally, its 2019 recognition as the second-best city to visit by Lonely Planet marks a milestone that highlighted its blend of innovation, cultural diversity, and scenic landscapes, which continues to resonate as it evolves into a global tourism destination.

Qualifications

As the academic and executive head of the School, the Dean will provide strategic, academic, and administrative leadership and is expected to:

• Under the guidance of the University leadership, take full responsibility for the School’s strategic planning and implementation, building on existing strengths to drive high-quality development aligned with the University’s overall goals.

• Provide strong academic leadership to consolidate and elevate the School’s foundation, fostering a culture of excellence in teaching, research, and clinical practice.

• Lead the design and launch of pioneering interdisciplinary programmes at the intersection of medicine, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics, positioning the School as a global leader in next-generation medical education and research.

• Act as a catalyst for deepening industry–academia–research (IAR) collaboration, using the teaching hospital as the core platform for student development and ensuring seamless alignment between classroom learning, clinical training, and real-world innovation.

• Lead the recruitment and development of distinguished academic clinicians and researchers of international standing, building a diverse and high-calibre faculty team to support interdisciplinary growth and innovation.

• Maintain and enhance robust relationships with internal stakeholders (faculty, students, and University administration) and external partners (hospitals, healthcare authorities, industry partners, and alumni) to secure resources and support for the School’s development.

• Work closely with the Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) to promote cross-campus resource sharing, complementary strengths, collaborative innovation, and the development of differentiated competitive advantages.

• Actively participate in the formulation and refinement of School policies and operational procedures, ensuring compliance with University regulations, sound governance, and effective institutional management.

• Oversee academic affairs, faculty staffing, financial resources, and student matters with strong organizational and execution capabilities, ensuring efficient, transparent, and accountable administration.

The Dean will be concurrently appointed as a tenured professor.

Relocation to Shenzhen, China will be required.

Salary & Benefits

Commensurate with personal qualifications, internationally competitive, with university benefits.

Applications

Interested parties are invited to apply by sending an application, together with a full curriculum vitae and copies of relevant documents, or nominate candidates to:

Mr. Peter Liu

Managing Director, Asianet Consultants

Email: cuhksz- View email address on ziprecruiter.com Tel: (852) 2530-0137

The University reserves the right not to fill the position. Review of nominations and applications will continue until the post is filled. The information provided will be used for consideration of an application.